Duty Log | Col. Patrick Harper | "Semper Fidelis"

Posted on 241505.24 @ 4:40pm by Colonel Patrick Harper

Mission: The Krigoran War [GQ]

Semper Fidelis - Always Faithful

Patrick stood on soil that was not his own, something that military men all down the centuries were required to do when called upon. This was not his fight, but at the same time, it was - such were the contradictions of his profession. He hadn't started it, he had not been a major player in its beginning, but this was as much is fight as if he had been - and to think otherwise would lead to failure. The men and women of the 86th MECH relied on him not to fail - and this would be his first field command as a commissioned officer commanding a formation. His years of service as a Command Sergeant Major had prepared him for most of it - but not all of it.

The 8th MECH was what the marine corps referred to as a "Heavy Brigade", meaning that it was designed to be a hammer-blow to enemy forces it went up against. It was comprised of two battalions of combat infantry - mounted on tracked armoured personnel carriers, an armoured battalion and a battalion of artillery. Of the latter, these were mobile launchers best able to follow the brigade in combat. Whilst lacking the pure punch of an Armoured Brigade, his brigade was designed to punch through - then follow up with infantry which in tracked vehicles, could keep pace with the tanks of his organic tank battalion.

Harper had served in various different marine units over his career, giving him a broad understanding of marine unit management and roles. However, for a large part of his career, he'd been assigned to MEU's, then later MEB's and MEF's. These were flexible monsters, with an air element that his new command did not organically have. Instead, he would be reliant on others for air support - something that was entirely new to Harper. He'd spent decades under Sharpe's command, and knew his playbook backwards, but there was a huge difference between being the Quarterback and being the Receiver.

Patrick strolled over to the collection of vehicles and tents that formed the CP of 3rd Division - where he'd find his own CG - Trident. For his part, Trident had been given the unenviable task of holding the middle line, whilst the more mobile MEU's and MEB had been given flank duty. Trident knew full well this made sense, and heck, he'd have done the same himself - but it did leave him in a position of shouldering the brunt of the enemy onslaught in conditions far from ideal. You simply could not manouver heavy battalions through narrow streets, and if you took them up the main thoroughfares - the enemy could see them and had laid ambushes for his tanks. This had basically made life incredibly difficult as it had prevented Trident from using the massive iron fist of his Division to full effect.

"Harper." Trident said, acknowledging the presence of his most recent acquisition. He did not personally approve of elevating senior Non-Coms to Colonelcy's and full commands over formations without the experience. The man was also a close personal friend of Trident's own CG, and therefore was virtually untouchable.

"Sir." Harper replied, nodding respectfully, as he approached the map table that Trident was leaning over. "The 86th is fully in theatre now sir, we're positioned just outside the spaceport, fully limbered ready for deployment."

Trident nodded at the report. It was what he'd come to expect from this man, a level of efficiency and predictability that came from years of service. It was his lack of command experience that concerned the significantly younger General. Harper was in his sixties, whereas Trident was only in his early fifties. It was likely that Harper, had he become an officer earlier, would now be a three star or better. He motioned for Harper to look at a spot on the holo-map.

"We're dug in all along this perimeter, which is the riverbank. We can't get anything across it, but neither can they. They've totally dug in on the other side, and are proving stubborn bastards to remove. However, this is not our only combat environment. There are smaller settlements all along the continent - which we need to deal with. I have no forces free at the moment to wheel around to go gallivanting off into the country-side, except yours. General Sharpe has us bottled up here, but even he appreciates the need for manoeuvre and rapid movement."

Harper said nothing, as he knew Sharpe better than Trident did. This kind of static warfare was actually something Sharpe was very good at, but he was equally proficient at rapid movement - and preferred to keep on the tails of his enemy rather than let them dig in. What Harper didn't tell Trident was that Sharpe often allowed his subordinates to think that they'd changed his mind, so as to allow them to think that they'd come up with a useful tactic, without appreciating the fact that Sharpe had already thought of it. Richard had called it a 'leadership thing', but Patrick thought it undermined Sharpe's credibility as a General to allow juniors to think they were better than he.

Trident looked to Patrick, and then zoomed the map out. "What I need your forces to do is to head due east, and move with all speed and alacrity over to this second city on the other side of the continent. There's a second spaceport there that we need to secure. Its a heck of a lot smaller than this one, but it is still vital that we hold it. We've bombed the crap out of it, but that only delays things, not secures it. On your way there, you are to secure any settlement you come across, and neutralise any enemy formation larger than a single soldier."

"Understood General. What's our RoE?" Harper asked.

"Usual RoE's apply, Colonel." Trident answered. "No civilian casualties if you can absolutely avoid it. However, the CG has authorised the destruction of civilian buildings if the military situation requires it. Further, whilst the usual RoE's require us to take all measures to secure a surrender prior to military engagement, the CG has also waived this requirement. If you see a military force and you believe it poses a significant threat, you are permitted to engage first."

"Air support?" Harper asked next, taking notes.

"The 505th Air Wing are tasked to your AO, via Colonel Anderson." Trident replied. "They're predominantly air-to-mud operations, but I do know that the CG has a lot of taskings for A2M ops, so there might be a time when the 505 can't go all out for you. However, CAS should be fully available on demand."

"Anything else sir?" Harper asked.

"Not at the moment Colonel. Although you might receive secondary taskings from me as things progress. You're to report your progress every four hours. Bear in mind that the further you move away from here, the further away reinforcements are. I cannot extract so much as a Battalion from the line without consequences, so think carefully before you engage." Trident replied, looking at Harper.

"Copy that sir. We'll be on our way by 2100 ZULU." Harper reported. "Logistics support?"

"You call, we haul." Trident smiled.

Harper smirked at that one, knowing the age old motto of the logistics arm of any military force. "Roger that." Harper said, then snapped off a salute as he left the room.

Once outside the CP, Harper's own CSM came over. "What's the word boss?"

"We ride out after dinner, Sarge." Harper replied, climbing into the hummer that had been brought over to take him back to the 86th. "Spread the word. I want all Battalion heads in my CP in thirty minutes. Whilst that's happening, I want the brigade made ready for mass mobilization."

"Oh, and get signals to get me a link-up with Xonnel." Harper said, realising this might be the last time in some time he'd have time or ability to talk to his wife.

"Yes Sir." The CSM replied, getting behind the wheel to drive his boss back to his command.

= End Log =

Col. Patrick Harper
CO, 86th MECH
NPC by Frankie

&

MGen. Trident
CG, 3rd Division
NPC by Frankie